As was the case for the last outing, which took place at the Assistant Minister Shen’s residence, most of the young ladies who attended the banquet were the capital’s officials’ daughters. However, they fell short of today’s high-ranked misses. For many people, this would be their first time seeing the di daughter of the Jiang fu. It has always been said that Jiang fu’s Jiang Su Su was renowned for both her talent as well as her beautiful, fairy-like appearance. Therefore, they were all brimming with curiosity about this young lady who grew up in the countryside. Who would have thought that she had such a magnificent and graceful bearing?
The Qing Song Boat and the Ling Long Boat were in close proximity to each other. Both boats were moored side by side at the pier. Each and every move of the Jiang fu’s young ladies, from the shore to get on the boat, could be seen by all the people aboard the Qing Song Boat. Jiang Dan and Jiang Li were naturally ignored in favour of the Jiang fu’s di daughter. In the past, all eyes fell on Jiang Su Su, but tonight they were focusing on Jiang Ruan.
Aboard the Qing Song Boat, an infatuated official family’s young master dressed in resplendent brocade, muttered, “A beauty from the city, and a beauty from the country.”
Jiang Ruan walked steadily. However, it felt somewhat ironic. In her past life, she also stepped onto the Ling Long Boat the same way, but unfortunately, she did not receive such amazed gazes from people. At that time, their eyes were filled with sneers and ridicule, as if they were watching a low-class person who trembled with fear upon entering the upper echelons of society for the first time. In this life, why had it turned out this way?
She was not aware that in the past life, what Jiang Su Su and Xia Yan had instilled into her daily, in addition to the way others looked down on her due to the many years in the countryside, made her grow into a timid person riddled with an inferiority complex. Upon returning to the Jiang fu, Xia Yan had pretended to treat her on such intimate terms to the point of spoiling her silly. In reality, it was a “killing by overpraising” tactic. She never called a teacher to teach her to read or how to play the guqin, nor was she taught any feminine arts. Also she was left to her own devices in terms of her etiquette. For those noble families in the capital who observed rules and customs, she became a laughing stock.
Besides appearance, one could earn merit through personal conduct and manners. However, in her past life, she was timid and submissive. No matter how superior her appearance was, given such behaviour, she failed to live up to the expectations.
Later, in the palace, in order to shape her into a perfect chess piece, the Eighth Prince naturally made her work hard on the guqin, chess, calligraphy and painting. Unfortunately, cultivating elegant demeanour worthy of the palace was not something that could be studied. In the past, all the people present there, without any exception, scrutinized her manners with malicious eyes and tried to nitpick even the slightest mistakes. The lessons of the past life’s blood and tears therefore added a mysterious air to her. Now her leisurely movement and gorgeous appearance automatically attracted people’s eyes.
Jiang Su Su’s smile was still warm, but when carefully observed, it was not difficult to find the stiffness beneath it. When she stepped on the boat, she was immediately called by an acquaintance, Miss Xue, from the Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief’s fu. Jiang Su Su took Jiang Dan in one hand and Jiang Li in the other, and walked towards her, intentionally or unintentionally, leaving Jiang Ruan in place.
Both Lian Qiao and Bai Zhi, who were standing behind Jiang Ruan, knitted their brows. Jiang Ruan gently curled her lips. After all, Jiang Su Su was still young and did not know how to endure it. Nevertheless, when compared to other girls her age, she had a deep scheming mind and possessed a competitive streak, wanting to win every battle. Thus, once her position was threatened, she couldn’t keep up her charade.
She was left all alone. All the people on the Qing Song Boat saw it clearly. Among these people, a young master dressed in blue said angrily, “How can they bully a delicate and pretty little girl like this? These women went too far!” He was the young master of the Commander-in-chief’s fu.
At the same time, another young master echoed. “Indeed. That’s really too much. If there is no precedent, I would really like to ask her to sit next to me.”
However, he was not the only one feeling compassionate towards her. Before Jiang Ruan could decide where to sit in the Ling Long Boat, she heard a familiar voice calling her, “Jiang Ruan, come here.” When she turned around to see, it was indeed Lin Zi Xiang.
Jiang Ruan walked over to her and sat down beside her. Lin Zi Xiang looked at her attentively. Then she nodded and said, “You look much prettier than your younger sister. The red colour is also more pleasing to the eye than her hypocritical white.”
Jiang Ruan was speechless. Lin Zi Xiang pulled her hand again and told the people sitting around the table, “This is Miss Jiang from the Prime Minister Jiang’s fu, Jiang Ruan. She is Jiang Su Su’s sister.”
There were many small groups on the boat. The young ladies of the noble families, who were already familiar with each other, were sitting at the same table. Even though Lin Zi Xiang had also been isolated earlier at the Shen fu, she had her own friends in the capital’s young ladies’ circle. Lin Zi Xiang also introduced to her, “This is Miss Dong of the capital’s Inspector General’s fu, Miss Xu, the young lady of the Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, Miss Wen from the Regimental Commander’s fu, and Miss Zhao, the daughter of the Assistant Marshal.”
Dong Ying’er, the young lady of the Inspector General’s family, had a pretty and adorable round face. She told her generously, “So you are Jiang Ruan. Just now I was looking at you in a bit of silly manner. Little did I know that there is such a beautiful girl in the world.”
Her words were innocent and frank, without deliberate flattery. It gave people a good impression of her. Wen Fei Fei and Zhao Jin Jun were both from military families, and their actions also carried heroic spirits. Zhao Jin Jun laughed and said, “If I were a man, I would go to your manor tomorrow to propose marriage.”
“Exactly,” Wen Fei Fei quipped. “You already have such a beautiful appearance. In a few years, all the ladies in the capital will have no face to go out.”
Jiang Ruan also smiled, “These elder sisters deliberately embarrass me. Today my eyes have been opened. There are girls in the capital who have a similar temperament and appearance. If I were a man, I would be fickle and marry all the sisters and hide you all away.”
The whole table of people broke into laughter again, looking joyous and harmonious. Lin Zi Xiang looked at Xu Ruoxi, “Why are you so absent-minded?”
Xu Ruoxi was the di daughter of the scholar in charge of the Hanlin Academy. She was normally a noble and proud person. Just as she was about to speak, a long and dragged out sound was heard from outside, “Jin Ying Wang has arrived — Eighth Prince has arrived –“
Xu Ruoxi’s vigour was instantly replenished and her face turned scarlet. On the other hand, Jiang Ruan became stiff and tried to keep her mind steady so as to not spill her tea.
She followed the crowd’s gaze to look toward the shore, only to see a person in white quickly approaching. That man looked cultured and refined, and just like in her past life, he was slim and graceful with an elegant bearing, his face wreathed in smiles while walking toward the boats. The river was crystal clear, reflecting the hustle and bustle of the throng of people. Coming across old friends again on this extraordinarily lively night, it seemed as if the blue sea had turned into mulberry fields (i.e., time brings great changes).
The conversation and laughter on the Ling Long Boat came to an abrupt stop, but Xu Ruoxi’s glance did not waver from the Eighth Prince. The person behind the Eighth Prince was clad in black from head to toe. His brocade robe was embroidered at the hem with golden qilins. He wore a jade belt and a pair of greenish black boots. The youth was elegant and outstanding, his heroic spirit domineering. His eyes were as indifferently cold as snow, and he moved with a natural grace like moving clouds and flowing water. His charm was unexpectedly superior to that of the Eighth Prince.
Xu Ruoxi’s voice trembled with excitement, “It’s Jin Ying Wang...”
Jiang Ruan wrinkled her eyebrows slightly. She had seen this young man in black twice. Unexpectedly, he was the outstanding and famous Jin Ying Wang of the Great Jin Dynasty.
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